Programmable controller for controlling reproduction machines

ABSTRACT

A programmable controller is utilized to control a reproduction machine for producing impressions of an original on a support material. The reproduction machine includes a photosensitive member and a plurality of discrete operating components mutually cooperable with the photoreceptive member to electrostatically produce the impressions. The programmable controller incorporates a computer which operates under the direction of a master program. The computer calculates timing signals in accordance with the program information and stores the timing signals in a memory for later actuation of the components in a properly timed sequence to produce the copies desired. The machine, under the direction of the computer, periodically checks the operability of at least one of the operating components in the interval between the timing signals. Similarly, the timing signals stored in the memory are periodically updated during the intervals between actuation of the operating components.

This is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 496,663, filed Aug. 12,1974.

This invention relates to reproducing machines in general and, inparticular, to a computer controlled reproducing machine and improvedapparatus for and method of controlling and operating reproducingmachines.

As the public has become accustomed to the convenience and economy ofxerographic machines designed to make copies on ordinary plain paper,they are increasingly demanding more economical, high speed, reliableand inexpensive reproducing machines of flexible and versatile naturewith diverse optional and add-on features. In response, manybreakthroughs and significant enhancements have been made to erographicmachines to the point where in the span of about a dozen years or so,the machine speeds have increased dramatically.

One of the areas where major efforts have been directed for improvementhas been control aspect of the machine and significant advances havebeen made in this area in recent years in the form of hardwired controllogic that gives the machine added versatility and reliability. Whilethe hardwired logic has provided significant advances to the overallenhancement of the machine, it has been shown to have its inherentlimitations. Thus, for example, the functions provided by the hardwiredlogic are generally wired into the logic circuitry and frozen.Consequently, when a new function has to be added or existing functionshave to be modified, the logic must be redesigned and rewired. But thetime, efforts and cost involved in modifying existing logic, ordesigning a new hardwired logic control for machines of newconfiguration, or of old configuration with new add-on or opticalfeatures, have been found rather significant and burdensome.

Additionally, the increased complexity of the modern high speedcopier/duplicator has resulted in a tremendous increase in controlcircuitry, which today is normally carried on circuit boards and throughindividual wiring. This increase in control circuitry has at this sametime created a tremendous space problem, namely where to put thecircuitry and still retain a reasonable machine size. In addition,subsequent changes, alterations, additions, and the like often bringwith them increased amounts of circuit boards and wires which may tax tothe limit the available space.

While developments in the art of the circuit controller fabricationoffer promise in alleviating the problems alluded to above, suchdevelopments have not heretofore appeared useful for the electrostaticcopier/reproduction machines as we know them today. Recent advances incircuit fabrication techniques, i.e. L.S.I. chips, are of some help inreducing wiring bulk but do not themselves alleviate the necessity ofrewiring in the event of design changes. As for controllers one mayconsider the control of an asynchronous pointer operated through a dataprocessing system. However, typically, electrostatic type copiers andreproduction machines are synchronous by nature and not asynchronous, orreadily converted to asynchronous operation. This in part is due to thefact that most copiers employ a continuous photosensitive member orsupport therefor, and are hence alien to the use of individualphotosensitive plates which appear to be required for asynchronous typeoperation.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome theaforementioned difficulties found in the presently availablecopier/duplicator machines.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved reproduction machine.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improvedprogrammable controller for a reproduction machine.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide aprogrammable controller for a high speed copier/duplicator machine whichprovides timed control signals to the process control devices of themachine for actuating the operating components of the machine.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improvedmethod for controlling and operating an electrostatic reproductionmachine.

The foregoing and other objects of the present invention are attained inaccordance with the present invention using a programmable controllercomputer having a program storage means to store a set of programinstructions for enabling the computer to generate control signals toactuate process control devices of the machine in a timed manner inmaking copies as directed by the operator.

It is a feature of the present invention to provide a set of programs tobe stored in the computer and designed to enable the computer to respondto the operator's instructions, such as a selection of the copy length,copy numbers, etc. and calculate the requisite timing information tocontrol the machine operating components to produce the copies desired.

It is another feature of the present invention to provide a method ofcontrolling a reproduction machine to produce copies from originals,comprising the steps of programming a computer so that it enables thecomputer to respond to the machine status in terms of machineoperativeness and to the operating instructions provided by the operatorthat pertain to the reproduction run such as document numbers, number ofcopies for the respective documents, and length of the copy images, andgenerate control signals to operate the machine to make copies accordingto the operator's instructions.

It is yet another feature of the present invention to provide a programdesigned to provide noise immunity.

It is yet another feature of the present invention to provide a machinewherein the control signals for the machine are derived, under thecontrol of software, in successive cycles, each cycle starting with apitch or start signal, followed by a series of timed signals referencedback to the pitch signal, and then applied to the machine controldevices to implement the machine process steps.

It is a further feature of the present invention to provide a roll fed,single pass electrostatographic reproducing machine.

It is still another feature of the present invention to provide, asdocument originals, a film cassette or roll having a plurality ofdocuments in sets, each set having one or more pre-collated pagespositioned in series in successive frames and the sets and the pagesbeing coded for identification.

It is yet a further feature of the invention to provide anelectrostatographic machine that has photoreceptive means in duplicateand so disposed that either one or both can be operated to make imageimpressions on either one or the other or both sides of the web materialfed therepast.

The foregoing and other objects and features and advantages of thepresent invention will become clearer from the following detaileddescription of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A shows a schematic front view of an exemplary reproductionmachine with a programmable controller of the present invention; FIG. 1Bshows a schematic front view of an exemplary operator control console ofthe controller;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view showing details of the paper path for thereproduction machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged schematic view of the document input module forthe machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view showing the document originals in the form of aplurality of film frames in series, each frame being code marked foridentication;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged schematic view of the optical paths for themachine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged isometric view showing details of the developingapparatus for the machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view partially in section showing details of theguillotine assembly for the machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram showing the programmable controllerof the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the input/output interface circuitrybetween the computer, reproduction machine, and the operator console;

FIG. 10 is a schematic outline showing the paper path divided intoimaginary pitch zones;

FIG. 11 is a schematic outline showing the input film module dividedinto imaginary pitch zones;

FIG. 12 is a schematic outline showing the electrostatic path dividedinto imaginary pitch zones;

FIGS. 13 and 14 are diagrams showing the timing relationship of thetimed process events and the pitch zones for the paths illustrated inFIGS. 9, 10 and 11 during processing;

FIG. 15 is a schematic chart of the program routines of the software foruse for the computer to operate the machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 16 is a flow chart illustrating a general sequence of the operationof the system shown in FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 17 - 28 show in detail the various major component parts and thegeneral sequence of operation shown in FIG. 16.

THE MACHINE

Referring to the drawings in general, and in particular, to FIGS. 1A, 2and 8, the drawings show in exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention in the form of a reproduction system havingcopier/reproduction machine, designated generally by the numeral 5 and aprogrammable controller 200 for operating the machine 5. Hereinafter,the invention will be described in terms of a specific copier/duplicatormachine run by a specific programmable computer, but it is to beunderstood clearly from the outset that the specific configuration ofthe machine and computer is for illustrative purposes only and is notintended to limit the spirit and scope of the present invention. Theexemplary machine 5 is preferably a xerographic processor and may be asimplex/duplexing machine, that is, one that produces image impressionson either or on both sides of copy material. The reproduction machine 5includes duplicate processing units 7, 7' as will be described morefully herein.

To simplify the ensuing description of the reproduction machine 5, thexerographic processing unit 7 is described in detail, with identicalareas of processing unit 7' being identified on the drawings by the samenumeral followed by a prime mark.

In the exemplary reproduction machine 5, the original document ordocuments being reproduced are in the form of a transparent film striphaving a plurality of documents, books, each document having any givennumber of pages or frames 11 arranged in series in a film strip 12 asseen in FIG. 4. As will be described in detail later, the frames 11 aregrouped or positioned in series and are suitably coded to identify thestarting and ending frames of each document and each individual frame orpage. The film strip may come in a convenient cassette form. Film strip12 is indexed in a timed manner across a copy platen 14, (seen in FIG.3) under the control of the controller 200. The platen 14 is transparentand is sufficiently large to accommodate two frames at once. Onceindexed, the frames may be flash exposed to project optical lightimages. Dual illumination systems are disposed above platen 14 toilluminate the frames 11 produce light image rays corresponding to theinformational areas on each frame 11 and therebelow. The image rays areprojected by means of independent optical systems 18, 18' onto thephotosensitive surface of the xerographic plates associated therewith.

In the exemplary reproduction machine 5, seen best in FIG. 1A, theaforesaid xerographic plates comprise endless flexible photoconductivebelts 20, 20' supported in belt modules 21, 21' respectively. A suitablecharging device, i.e. corona generating devices 22, 22', serve touniformly charge the respective photoconductive belts 20, 20'preparatory to imaging at the respective exposure stations 23, 23'.

Each of the latent electrostatic images formed on the photoconductivebelts 20, 20' passes through respective development stations 24, 24'whereat the image is developed with an oppositely charged developingmaterial to form a xerographic powder image corresponding to the latentimage on the belts 20, 20'. Thereafter, the developed image moves to therespective transfer station 25, 25' where the image is electrostaticallytransferred to one side or the other of a suitable support material, inthis case web 28. Following transfer, residual developer on the belts20, 20' is removed at the respective cleaning stations 29, 29' inpreparation for the next copying cycle.

Web 28 is supplied from a roll 30, a web feeding system 31 beingprovided to advance the web in response to damand as will appear.Following transfer of a developed image to web 28, web 28 passes throughfuser 33 whereat the toner image thereon is permanently fused. Followingfusing, the web 28 is cut into discrete sheets at cutting station 34,the cut sheets then being transported by discharge conveyor 35 to anoutput or collecting station 36.

BELT MODULES

The belt modules 21, 21' include a generally triangular subframe 38rotatably supporting rollers 39, 40, 41. The axes of rollers 39, 40, 41are substantially parallel with one another and are disposed at theapexes of the triangular subframe 38. The belt modules are supported incantilever fashion from the main machine frame 8 by means of projectingsupport shafts 42, 43, shaft 42 being coaxial with the supper roller 39which is journaled for rotation thereabout. Suitable locking means (notshown) are provided to retain the belt modules on their respectivesupporting shafts 42, 43 and in predetermined operative positionrelative to the remaining system components. The aforedescribed lockmeans is releasable to permit an entire belt module to be withdrawn forservicing and repair.

In order to provide the necessary operating tension on thephotoconductive belts 20, 20' as well as to assure their proper trackingduring operation thereof, supporting roller 40 is rotatably journaled ina swingable yoke having a stem supported for both rotational movementabout an axis perpendicular to the axis of roll 40 and for limited axialmovement therealong. Suitable spring means mounted along the stem biasthe yoke and the roller supported therewithin outwardly against thebelts 20, 20' associated therewith to tension the photoconductive belt.The aforedescribed support arrangement for photoconductive belts isdisclosed more fully in U.S. Pat. No. 3,702,131, issued Nov. 7, 1972 andincorporated by reference herein.

It is important that the photoconductive belts 20, 20' be substantiallyflat opposite their respective exposure stations 23, 23' and for thispurpose a vacuum platen 45 is disposed on the belt module subframe 38opposite each exposure station 23, 23'. The outer side 46 of platen 45facing the photoconductive belts is substantially flat. A series oforifices in the surfaces 46 lead to the interior of platen 45 which inturn communicates with a suitable source of vacuum (not shown). Theexposure of the surface of the belts 20, 20' opposite platen 45 tovacuum serves to draw the respective belt tight against the side 46 ofplaten 45 to thereby assure a flat, photoconductive belt surface at theexposure station. To reduce friction and prevent scratching of theunderside of belts 20, 20' a porous cloth or paper sheet is stretchedacross the platen surface 46. A more complete description of theaforedescribed belt hold down arrangement may be found in U.S. Pat. No.3,730,623, issued May 1, 1973 incorporated by reference herein.

Belt supporting rollers 40, 40' are rotatably driven via suitabletransmission means (not shown) from main drive motor 47, thephotoconductive belts 20, 20' moving in the direction shown by the solidline arrow in FIG. 1A. To assure proper tracking of belts 20, 20' duringoperation thereof, the bearing support for roller 41 includes a trackingdisc 48 (seen in FIG. 2) at one end thereof disposed in angularrelationship to the axis of roller 41 so that a position of thecircumference of disc 48 rides against the edge of belt 20, 20'associated therewith. A double acting belt tracking switch 49 iscooperatively disposed with the periphery of disc 48 diametricallyopposite the point where disc 48 contacts the edge of thephotoconductive belt, the arrangement being such that excessive lateralmovement of the belts 20, 20' in either direction along supporting roll41 tilts disc 48 to in turn actuate tracking switch 49. As will appear,actuation of switch 49 works through the programmable controller tointerrupt operation of the reproduction machine 5 under certainconditions of operation.

EXPOSURE SYSTEM

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the illumination and optical systems 18and 17', respectively, cooperate to provide a light image of the frameor frames 11 on platen 14 at the exposure station 23, 23' associatedtherewith. The illumination systems 17,17' are encased in a commonhousing 50 disposed over platen 14. Platen 14 is of a size sufficient toaccommodate two frames 11, 11' at once and illumination housing 50 issub-divided into two separate illumination chambers 51, 51' by interiorwall 52. Each illumination chamber 51, 51' covers one half of the platen14. A suitable flash lamp 53, 53' and condenser lens assembly 54, 54'are supported in each of the chambers 51, 51' above platen 14 to exposethe portion of the film strip 12 thereunder respectively when lamptriggering means 55, 55' of a suitable design are energized in a timedsequence under the control of the controller 200.

THE OPTICAL SYSTEM

As best seen in FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, the optical systems 18, 18' transmitthe light images generated upon actuation of the flash lamps 53, 53' tothe exposure station 23, 23' associated therewith. The optical systems18, 18' each include a lens 56. Since platen 14 is above and to one sideof exposure stations 23, 23', a series of mirrors 57, 58, 59 whichcooperate with the lenses 56 to provide an optical path 60 for the lightimages of the film frames on platen 14 to the respective exposurestation 23, 23'.

THE DEVELOPER STATION

The latent electrostatic image created on the photoconductive belts 20,20' at the exposure station 23 or 23' is rendered visible through theapplication of developing material thereto at developing stations 24,24', the developing material comprising a mixture of relatively largecarrier particles and relatively small toner particles in triboelectricrelationship to one another. Referring particularly to FIGS. 1A and 6 ofthe drawings, developing stations 24, 24' each include a developerhousing 62 supported on machine frame 8 and in operative juxtapositionwith the belt modules 21, 21' proximate belt supporting roller 40.Developer housing 62 includes a lower sump portion 63 within which asupply of developing material is disposed. The portion of developinghousing 62 adjoining the photoconductive belts 20, 20' is arcuate inconformance with the arcuate shape of the photoconductive belts 20, 20'as the belts travel around the belt supporting roller 40. Supportedwithin the housing 62 in close, spaced relationship to the adjoiningbelts 20, 20' is a curved developer bed 65 across and through which thedeveloping material passes during operation thereof. Developer bed 65consists of a lower base 66 and spaced upper electrodes 67, electrodes67 being supported through sides 68 in predetermined spaced relationshipfrom base 66 to form therebetween chamber 69 through which thedeveloping material passes. A suitable seal 70 is provided along eachside of bed 65 to prevent leakage of developer from the developerhousing 62.

The developer bed 65 is supported in a generally upright position in thedeveloper housing 62, housing 62 including an inlet baffle 71 cooperablewith the external surface of housing 62 to form an inlet to bed 65 inthe chamber 69 thereof. The lower portion of housing 62 adjoining bed 65forms an outlet passage for the developing material to route thedeveloping material back to the sump 63 of housing 62. The developer bed65 is supported within developer housing 62 on flexible members 73, oneside of the developer bed 65 being drivingly connected with a suitablevibrating mechanism such as acoustic coil 75.

To provide a flow of developer across electrodes 67 and through thechamber 69 of the developer bed 65, a developing material conveyor 77 isprovided. The supporting roller 78 for conveyor 77 is driven by motor79. Conveyor 77 serves to raise developing material from the sump 63 anddischarge developer onto the inlet baffle 71 leading to the developerbed 65. A more complete description of the developer may be found inU.S. Pat. No 3,613,637, incorporated herein expressly by reference.

TRANSFER STATION

The images developed on the photoconductive belts 20, 20' areelectrostatically transferred onto the side of web 28 opposite theretoat transfer stations 25, 25'. To facilitate transfer and subsequentseparation of the web 28 from the surface of belts 20, 20' withoutarcing, suitable transfer corona generating devices 81, 81' are providedopposite belt supporting rollers 41.

CLEANING STATION

Following transfer, residual developing material remaining on the belt20, 20' is removed at the cleaning station 29, 29' associated therewith.Cleaning stations 29, 29' include a housing 82 within which are mounteda pair of brush type cleaning rolls 83, 84, the periphery of which is incontact with the surface of belts 20, 20' associated therewith. Pick-offrollers 85, 86 engage each of the brush rollers 83, 84, respectively,rolls 85, 86 serving to remove developer picked up by the rolls 83, 84.A flicker bar 87 engages the rolls 85, 86 to remove developing materialpicked up by rolls 85, 86 from the cleaning rolls 83, 84, the removeddeveloper being urged from the housing 82 by suitable vacuum means (notshown). The several rollers of cleaning stations 29, 29' are driven bymotors 88, 88', respectively.

WEB FEEDING MECHANISM

Preferring particularly to FIGS. 2 and 5 of the drawings, the copysubstrate material 28 is supplied from a relatively large roll 30supported upon a shaft 90 and disposed in a paper supply housing 91appended to main housing 9 of the reproduction machine 5. Drag brake 92on shaft 90 restrains rotation of the supply roll 30. Web 28 is unwoundover a first de-curling roll 93 rotatably supported within the housing91 proximate supply roll 30. The axis of the de-curling roll 93 (FIG 1A)is substantially parallel with the axis of supply roll support shaft 90.

From the de-curling roll 93, web 28 passes over guide roll 94 where theweb 28 is turned through an angle of approximately 90°. For thispurpose, guide roll 94 is rotatably supported within housing 91 at anangle of 45°. From guide roll 94, web 28 passes through a secondde-curling device 96 and around guide rollers 97, 98 to splicer 100.There may be provided a suitable detecting means 99 for detecting theend of the roll 30. The detecting means is so positioned that it detectsthe end before the end reaches the splicer 100. The detected signal maythen be used by the programmable controller to stop the machine topermit the operator to mount a new roll and splice it to the old rollbeing used up. Splicer 100, which may comprise any suitable papersplicing device, serves to enable the leading edge of a fresh supplyroll to be attached to the trailing edge of the previous web. Followingsplicer 100, the web 28 passes over a second guide roll 102 which turnsthe web through 90°. Web 28 then enters housing 9 of the reproductionmachine 5.

As web 28 enters the machine housing 9, the web 28 passes over feed roll104, roll 104 being driven by web feed motor 105. A dancer roll 106,which is arranged to float vertically in slotted openings 108 in themachine frame 8, cooperates with feed roll 104 and downstream guide roll109 to give a proper tension to the web 28. Switches 111, 112, cooperatewith dancer roll 106 enable the supply and continuity of web 28 to bemonitored as will appear hereinafter.

From dancer roll 106, the web 28 is routed via guide rolls 114, 115 tothe dual transfer stations 25, 25'. Guide roll 115 serves to tension theweb, roll 115 being supported upon a displaceable frame 116. Spring 118biases the frame 116 in the direction of web feed to maintain a tensionupon the web 28. Following guide roll 115, web 28 is drawn past transferstations 25, 25' and through fuser 33 by feed roll pair 119, 120, roll120 thereof being suitably driven by motor 122 to advance web 28 againstthe tension imposed by the guide roll 115. Following feed roll pair 119,120, web 28 is advanced to cutting station 34.

To enable the belt modules 21, 21' to be operated independently andbelts 20, 20' thereof to move without contact with web 28, rolls 123,124 are provided adjacent each of the transfer stations 25, 25'. Eachroll 123, 124 is supported upon a displaceable frame 125 designed toenable the rolls together with the portion of the web therebetween to bemoved into and out of transfer contact with the photoconductive belts20, 20'. Suitable drive means, such as solenoids 126, 127 actuable bythe controller 200 are provided to selectively move the rolls 123, 124in such manner that the web 28 is moved into and out of transferrelationship with the photoconductive belts 20, and 20', respectively,at transfer stations 25 and 25'.

THE FUSER

Following transfer of the developed image to web 28, the web passesthrough fuser 33 wherein the toner image is permanently fixed. Fuser 33comprises a heated fusing roll pair 129, 130 forming a nip between whichweb 28 passes. External heating lamps 131, 131' serves as the source ofheat for fusing rolls 129, 130. Fusing rolls 129, 130 turn in thedirection shown by the solid line arrows in the drawings, drive motor132 being provided for this purpose. To permit pressure between fusingrolls 129, 130 to be relaxed, as, for example, when web 28 isstationary, roll 129 is supported for limited translating movementtoward and away from the roll 130. A suitble drive means such assolenoid 133 actuable under the command of the controller 200 isprovided to selectively displace roll 129 into and out of contact withroll 130. Alternatively other suitable fusing means such as flash fusingmeans may be used to effect the fusing operation.

FILM

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the document originals 11 in the form offilm to be copied are, as illustrated, in frames 11 arranged in seriesin a film strip 12 and mounted on a supply reel 134. A film take-up reel135 disposed on the opposite side of platen 14. A suitable filmadvancing means 137 and 137' is provided to draw the film from reel 134and advance the same across platen 14 and onto take-up reel 135.

The film advancing means may be arranged to advance the film strip 12 incontinuous fashion in taking up the film leader or in rewinding thefilm, or indexing the film 12 during copying operation, as directed bythe controller 200. To identify the individual frames, code marks 138are provided along one side of film strip 12 and marks 138S, 138E areprovided to identify starting and end frames to indicate the start andend of each document series. Control marks 138 are also relied upon tolocate the individual film frames in proper position or platen 14.Suitable photoelectric detectes 139S, 139A, 139B, 139E are providedadjacent platen 14 to read the marks 138S, 138, 138E on the film strip12.

In operation, the operator loads a selected supply reel or cassette 134in place, and manually threads the film leader onto film drive path,across platen 14 and onto take-up reel 135. A suitable slew controlmeans in the form of a button 507 on the operator console 500 may thenbe used to operate motor 137, to take up the film leader.

The film strip 12 may have been previously prepared off line by asuitable camera (not shown) which is used to render a photographicrendition, in the form of image transparencies of the individual pagesof the original document originals. A suitable device, such asselectively operated light sources (not shown) may be employed toprovide the code marks 138S, 138, 138E when the film strip is prepared.

A film strip 12 may be first prepared by photographing a number of booksor documents, each having any given number of pages, up to its framecapacity. The example, suppose one of the books or documents has 100pages. The first frame pair will comprise images of pages 1 and 2 andwill carry code marks 138S and 138. The second negative pair are imagesof pages 3 and 4, and carry a mark 138 for each of the pair. Thiscontinues until the last negative pair, images of pages 99 and 100,which bear marks 138 and 138E. It will be understood that depending onthe length of film strip 12 available and the number of pages in eachdocument, a number of complete documents, the position of which on filmstrip 12 is identified by code marks 138S, 138, 138E may be provided ona single film reel 134 in a convenient cassette form. Suitable legendsare normally provided with the completed film reel to identify thevarious documents and their position on the film.

WEB CUTTING STATION

Referring to FIG. 7, cutting station 34 includes a guillotine knife 160supported by carriage 161 for reciprocating movement into and out ofcutting relationship with lower knife member 164. Carriage 161 issupported for slideable up and down movement in frame journals 162. Arotatable eccentric drive 165 is journaled within carriage 161 andserves on rotation of eccentric shaft 166 to reciprocate carriage 161and guillotine knife 160 up and down. A suitable drier for guillotineknife 160 is provided, exemplified by drive motor 167 coupled toeccentric shaft 166 via a solenoid operated clutch 168.

Armature 169 of clutch control solenoid 170 cooperates with clutch stop171 of clutch 168 to engage and disengage clutch 168, it beingunderstood that contact of armature 169 with stop 171 retains clutch 168disengaged and motor 167 and eccentric shaft 166 uncoupled. Uponactuation of solenoid 170, armature 171 is withdrawn permitting clutch168 to engage and drive eccentric shaft 166 to operate guillotine 160.Subsequent de-energization of solenoid 170, normally immediatelythereafter, returns armature 169 into blocking position for engagementwith stop 171 following one revolution of eccentric shaft 166. Actuationand deactuation of solenoid 170 is placed under the control of thecontroller 200 so that the operation of the guillotine is properlysynchronized with the rest of the machine operation.

To prevent movement of web 28 during cutting, feed roll pair 174 braketo a stop during the cutting process, the continued feed of web 28 beingaccommodated by the adjoining structure in the form of a buckle 28'. Asuitable brake/clutch control device 172 is provided for roll pair 174.

Hereinabove, major machine elements of a reproduction system embodyingthe present invention has been briefly described. As apparent from theforegoing description certain of specific operative steps indicated,such as exposure, image transfer and cutting operations must beprecisely timed whereas certain other steps, such as the operation ofthe charging station for the developer, have to be operated in propersequence although precise timing is not essential. These operationalsteps are implemented by actuating device control means that actuateprocess step implementing means provided therefor.

These timed control functions for reproduction systems which have beenprovided heretofore principally by hardwired logic are now implementedin accordance with the present invention by a programmable controllerwherein the sequencing and timing of the operative steps are nowprogrammed in software instructions and can be stored to run the machineand can be readily modified to the change sequence and timing to alterthe process steps for making prints or copies of different sizes andprogrammed by the operator. Hereinbelow, an illustrative embodiment ofthe programmable controller used to operate aforedescribedcopier/duplicator machine will be described in detail.

PROGRAMMABLE CONTROLLER

Referring to the system block, diagram shown in FIG. 8, the programmablecontroller 200 for reproduction machine 5 includes a suitableprogrammable computer 201, together with interface circuitry 203 foroperatively coupling the computer to the various control device elementsof the reproducing machine and the operator's control console 500.

For timing the operation of the reproduction machine, there is provideda timing signal clock pulse generator 207. Preferably the clock pulsegenerator may be of such an arrangement that its output repetition rateis related to the speed of the machine main drive motor 47 that drivesthe belt rollers 41 and 41'. In this manner the clock pulse train output208 produced by generator 207 is time related to the operational speedof reproduction machine 5 and, in particular, to the speed of the travelof the belts 20 and 20' and the web 28. As apparent from this, given afixed rate of travel of the web or belt, the pulse count can be used tomeasure the travel distance.

As shall be explained in detail, the computer is programed so thatduring the initialization period when the machine is progrmmed to make aparticular copy run, means are provided for the operator to indicate alength of the image impression, plus an appropriate amount of space. Forconvenience and ease of reference, the length plus speed will be calledpitch; also note that the impression length controls the pitch or imagelength and thus the time intervals between successive machine processevents. Given the pitch length information, the computer is programmedto calculate a list of the time intervals between the successive processevents which are stored in a table or storage location 205 of a suitablememory 206 of the computer. For each pitch cycle, a pitch signal for animaging cycle is generated by the computer. The pitch signal may bekeyed to suitable machine process events, such as image exposure step,that can be used as a reliable time reference point. The pitch interval,that is the time interval between successive pitch contains the controlssignals for the machine process events for each imaging cycle.

In operation, each of the successive time interval count numbers in thetable 205 is stored in a counter 209 in succession for the successivemachine process events. In response to a start command by the computerthe machine starts to operate and starts an imaging cycle. The start ofthe imaging cycle is marked by a pitch pulse. Thereafter, the next countstored in the counter is decremented to zero by the clock pulse counts.As it decrements to zero the computer generates a control signal andaddresses it out to its intended device control elements or means toimplement a machine event. This process continues until the end of thepitch. The process is repeated again for the succeeding pitch intervaluntil a copy run as programmed by the operator is completed.

While the counter 209 and the table 205 for the process events may beprovided internally within the computer, it need not be so limited. Forexample, the counter may be provided external to the computer andessentially operated in the same manner as described above.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a suitableprogram, such as the one more fully described below, is stored in thememory 206 to run the computer as described above in generating thevarious signals required to operate the machine. In this connection thestored program includes instruction routines to enable the computer tocalculate the count numbers, i.e. the timing list for a particularreproduction or copy run for a given pitch and other informationpertinent to the reproduction run.

As is well known generally, a computer operates at an extremely highspeed compared to a mechanical machine. Likewise, in the present system,the reproduction machine operates relatively slowly compared to thecomputer 201. In fact, the speed disparity is such that the computer cando all necessary chores to generate the timed pulse signals to implementthe machine events, such as exposure, develop, transfer, cut, etc. andyet have substantial amount of time left over to perform other choresAccordingly, in accordance with another aspect of the present invention,the computer is utilized to perform a number of other functionsutilizing its free time intervals, such as housekeeping chores,monitoring and updating of timing list, etc.

PROCESS PATHS AND WORK STATIONS

Referring to FIG. 8, the timed control signals generated by the computerare applied via the interface circuitry 203 to various control devicesof the work stations in the various process paths that implement theprocess steps or machine events in making copies. The nature of thepaths can be better appreciated on a functional basis. Thus, there is apaper path formed by the paper web 28, xerographic photoconductor pathsformed by the belts 20 and 20' and imaging path formed for the film 12.Control devices are provided at the work stations along these paths toimplement the specific machine function or process events.

Now referring to the paper path shown in FIG. 1, and depicted in aseparate figure, FIG. 10, there is provided means 99 for sensing thetrailing end of the web supply, suitable detectors 111 and 112 forsensing the tension or other conditions of the web 28. The path alsoincludes one or more sheet jam detectors 113 for monitoring thecondition of the individual copy sheets downstream of web cuttingstation 34. Other operating stations in the paper path include webcontrol solenoids 126, 127 which move the web 28 into and out oftransfer relationship with the photoconductive belts 20, 20',respectively, at transfer stations 25 and 25', a fuser loading solenoid133, a guillotine drive solenoid 170, and a deflecting gate drivesolenoid 402, for effecting the transferring, fusing, cutting anddeflecting operations.

Along the xerographic paths, essentially formed by the belts 20 and 20'as depicted in FIG. 12, there are provided exposure stations 23, 23',developer station 24, 24', transfer stations 25 and 25', cleaningstations 29, 29' and charging stations 22, 22' for their intendedfunctions.

The optical path or image forming path, as depicted in FIG. 11, includesmeans 55 and 55', for triggering the lamps 53 and 53', which requireprecise timing so that they produce electrostatic latent images on thebelts 20, 20' at the proper time. The path also includes the means foradvancing and positioning the film strip 12 where the advancing thepositioning of the film be time synchronized to the machine operationframes to be copied.

The control devices shown positioned along the paths are described asillustrative of various means that may be utilized to implement machineprocess events and that are to be controlled by the controller.Accordingly, they should not be construed as complete or limiting.

The individual control devices or means that implement or monitor themachine events or functions, may be made of any suitable conventionalmeans, such as solid state devices, photo optical sensing means orswitches, exposure circuits, solenoids, etc., arranged to monitorvarious states or respond to the actuating and deactuating signals fromthe computer via the I/O interface 203.

As generally seen in FIG. 1B, the operator console 500 may include anysuitable input and output means such as a set of push buttons 501 forenabling the operator to key in digit numbers such as the document andcopy numbers for a particular reproduction run. The computer is soprogrammed that the document numbers and corresponding copy numberskeyed in via the digit keys in any random order are placed in properorder and sequence in the computer memory 206 for later use. Suitablemeans including a push button 502 are provided for the operator toindicate to the computer that a document number is being keyed in.Similarly, a push button 503 with appropriate means may be provided tosignify to the computer that the digit keyed is copy numbers.

There is a limit as to how many documents may be copied per reproductionrun. The upper limit depends on a number of factors such as the capacityof the film, the computer memory capacity and the number of pages.Taking all of these into account, in the present embodiment the computerwas programmed to copy up to any suitable number such as 10 documentsper reproduction run.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention the computerwas programmed to make a copy run for making only parts of documents.Thus, suppose a document has 100 pages and the operator wishes to copypages 50 to 70. The operator would code in page 50 as the start and page70 as the end pages for that copy run.

For correcting erroneous entry, the console may include suitable meanswith appropriate entry means 509, the pressing of which in conjunctionwith the document number or copy number will erase the correspondingstored digit numbers. For displaying the machine status information suchas the copy run information visual indicating means 510 withappropriately actuating buttons 511, 512 are provided.

The console 500 also includes a visual display means 514 indicating amalfunction and the nature, condition and the location of themalfunctioning part.

Console 500 also includes a power-on switch 520 print start button 521,and film slew control 507. Console 500 also includes suitable means 523,524 for selecting simplex or duplex, operation of the machine. The pitchlength of the copy run may be entered after pressing a push button 528provided for the purpose and then making digit entry of the length usingthe digit keys 510. The console also includes a push button control key531 for jogging or advancing the copy paper web increments.

In addition, the console may include any number of keys 533, 534, . . .for any special function that can be actuated to input signals to thecomputer to perform the special functions.

INTERFACE CIRCUITRY

FIG. 9 shows an illustrative embodiment of an interface circuitry 203 ina functional block diagram, that connects the computer 210 to thevarious operating control devices of reproduction machine 5 and theoperator control console 500. Interface circuitry 203 is designed toserve the function of enabling the operator to input copy runinformation to the computer to run the machine 5 in a particular modeand provide visual output signals indicative of both machine and programstatus and malfunction conditions at the operator control console 500.

It also serves the function of enabling the computer to monitor variouswork stations in the process paths and channel the timed control signalsto the various control devices in the processing paths. In short, theinterface circuitry is so designed that it enables the computer toaddress or monitor in successive cycles the various stations or controldevices positioned in the control console 500 and process paths of themachine.

More specifically, referring to FIG. 9, an address decoder 241 isoperatively disposed between the computer 201 and individual latchcircuits 243a, 243b . . . 243n and monitoring or scan circuits 251a,251b . . . 251n. The latch circuits are connected operatively to thevarious control devices, such as the exposure lamp triggering means 55,55', solenoid actuating means 126, 127, 170, 402, film advancing means137 and 137', various switches at the console, etc. When set or toggledas the case may be, the latches enable the control device elements toimplement the machine process events or give visual indications to theconsole. The monitoring or scanning circuits are connected to thesensing means, such as the means 111 and 112 for monitoring the web 28,film code sensing means 139S, 139A, 139B, 139E, jam sensing means 113,etc. for sensing the status of the various stations being monitored bythe computer and the various push button input means at the operatorconsole.

With a given decoding capacity, for example, an 9 bit decoding capacity,the decoder 241 can correspond to 9 bit address words from the computer201 and decode and address up to 2⁹ or 512 lines. The latch circuits243a, 243b . . . 243n may be reset or set by a sign via set signal paths246 and check selectively as addressed via the address decoder 241 andits output paths 242a, 242b, . . . 242n. Selective setting, resettingand toggling takes place as the decoder 241 decodes the address wordsand applies the strobbed out output to the selected or addressed latcheswhen the STROBE OUT clock pulse is applied thereto via a path 247. Theselected latch then assumes the condition indicated by computer outputlines 9 and 10. It will set if 10 is high and 9 is low, reset if 9 ishigh and 10 is low, or toggle if both are high.

Similarly in scanning the status of the various monitoring means, thecomputer addresses then via the decoder 241 and scanning circuit 251a,251b . . . 251n in succession. The scanned status signals are applied toa latch circuit means 257 via OR gate 255 and are sent to the computer201 when strobed in by strobe signals applied to the latch 257 insuccession via a STROBE IN signal path 258. In this manner, the computerstrobes the copy run information from the control console in variouskeys as the information is keyed in.

The copy run information that the operator programs into the computer inthis manner typically includes the condition of the image length, thedocuments numbers and copy numbers, and the simplex or duplex mode andthe like information that the computer requires in running the machinein making the copies.

TIMING OF CONTROL SIGNALS

Certain of the reproduction process steps, such as exposure step forforming latent images on the belts 20, 20' and actuating the guillotinecutter, etc, requires precise timing. There are other machine processevents or steps, such as the actuation of the transfer solenoids 126 or127 or both, depending upon whether or not the machine is to be operatedin a simplex or duplex mode. The operation of the cleaning and chargingcorotrons are generally of such a nature that they must be actuated atthe initialization period and kept on for the rest of the copy run oractuated and deactuated during each of the imaging cycles wherein propertiming sequence is required.

There are other types of events which occur at random and which are nottime related to the machine operation cycle, such as a paper jam, fuserover-temperature, paper splice a belt runout condition, and the like.These events normally represent machine malfunctions or interruptconditions which must be monitored and acted upon when the occur.

The way the control signals are derived according to the presentinvention will be now described in detail in terms of "pitch" zones andprocess events taking place in successive pitch zones in successionduring the successive pitch time intervals in the various process paths,namely, the copy paper or web 28 path, the photoconductive belts paths20 and 20' and the film path.

Each of these paths may be considered as being divided into "pitch"zones where pitch zones refer to spatial equivalence to a "pitch" zonein the xerographic path, i.e., an image impression length plus asuitable space on the photoreceptor belts 20, 20' traveling, at aconstant speed. Here it may be noted that the process speed of items indifferent process paths need not and in fact are not generally at thesame speed. Thus, for example, the speed of the film is much faster thanthe speed of the belts and moreover does not travel at a uniform speed.In case of the paper path, the web travels at a uniform speed until theguillotine cuts the web into successive sheets containing images. Butthe cut sheets can be moved out faster than the rate at which the webtravels. These process paths with different processing speeds are timeand space related to the travel speed and distance of the belts. Thisrelationship can be visualized by considering that these paths aredivided into pitch zones, wherein the start and the end of each zone ineach path correspond in time to the start and end of the pitch zones inthe belt.

Various process speeds at different paths and zones are different.Hence, the spatial distance traversed by the items being processed aredifferent. But, the pitch zones are deemed set up so that the eventstaking place in the various zones of the different paths controlled totime relate back to a reference process path, namely, the xerographicprocess or the photoconductor process path in the process system.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the computer 201 isprogrammed to run and generate timed control signals to the variouspaths in successive pitch cycles as the belt travels pitch distances insuccession. The timing of the control signals and application of thesignals to the control devices at the various work stations in thevarious process paths will now be described in detail with reference tothe process paths illustrated in FIGS. 10-14.

FIG. 10 shows the paper web 28 traversing through the paper path, theweb tension sensing means 111 and 112, roll end sensing means 99,engaging means 126 and 127 for engaging and disengaging the web 28 fromthe image transfer stations 25 and 25', fusing station 33 and deflectingmeans 400 for deflecting unwanted sheets into reject bin 401. FIG. 11shows the film path with film reel advancing and positioning means 134,137, and 135, and 137' and image exposure stations A and B. FIG. 12shows the photoconductive paths which includes image exposure stations23 and 23' image development stations 24, 24', transfer stations 25 and25' and cleaning stations 29 and 29', and charging stations 22, 22'.

Suppose the machine is set to operate at a given speed so that belts 20,20' are driven at 20 inches per second, that the belts are 40 incheslong, and the pitch length is 10 inches that is, one impression plus onespacing between impressions. This means that the belts travel past theimage exposure station 23 and 23' at the speed of 10 inches per image orpitch. Given the foregoing conditions, it can be visualized that thebelts can have four pitch zones, I, II, III and IV with each pitch zonecorresponding to a distance the belt travels past the exposure stationbetween successive exposure. For convenience, the time interval it takesfor the belt during two successive exposures may be called "pitch timeinterval" and an "imaging cycle" interchangeably. Similarly, the othertwo paths, namely, the paper path and film paths can be imagined asbeing divisible into pitch zones so that they are time related back tothe pitch zones in the photoconductor belt.

The spatial and timing relationship evident from the foregoing can be aappreciated further from FIGS. 13 and 14 which graphically illustratethe timing and spatial relationship between the paper and the belt pathsand various process steps that take place in the pitch zones in theirpaths. This can be better described in operational context as follows:In operation, the film frame pairs 11A and 11B in film strip 12 aresimultaneously positioned on platen 14. (FIG. 4). In a simplexoperation, one (11A) of the other (11B) frame is exposed and the lightimage A' and B' formed is projected onto the belt 20 or 20' to form alatent electrostatic image. In a duplex operation, exposure of the frame11B (B') is delayed by suitable time interval dt (FIG. 13) afterexposure of frame 11A, to allow the web 28 to travel from transferstation 25 to station 25' to effect back-to-back alignment of theimpressions produced on web 28.

As illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14, the belts 20 and 20' are exposed tothe light images A' and B' at times t₁ and t₃ during a first pitchinterval in the first pitch zone I, to form the latent images. Theimages are then developed at pitch zone II during the following orsecond pitch time interval. The developed images are then transferred atpitch zone III at time t₂ and t₄. The transferred images A' and B' arethereafter fused at pitch zone IV during the succeeding or fourth pitchinterval. The web 28 containing the impression is then cut by aguillotine 160 at pitch zone V during the next or fifth pitch interval.The deflector gate 400 in pitch zone VI is actuated at time t₆ in thesixth pitch interval when a cut sheet has to be scrapped otherwise theacceptable sheets is collected at the collection tray at time t₆. Pitchzones are set up so that the start, t_(o) and t_(end) of each of thepitch zone intervals coincide with one another in timing sense. Once thepaths are loaded, the aforementioned process events in the various zonesoccur in the time sequence shown in FIG. 14 on different imagesprocessed in the various zones.

It can be appreciated from the foregoing that where copying processesfor multiple copies are well under way, a number of images are inprocess concurrently, but at different stages in different zones. Thus,for example, at any given instant in time, an image may be undergoingfusing operation in pitch zone IV, while a second image is undergoingtransfer operation from belt 20 to web 28 in pitch zone III, a thirdimage is undergoing development on photoreceptive belt 20 in pitch zoneII and a fourth image undergoing exposure in pitch zone I.

The aforementioned imaginary pitch zones are set up so that theycorrespond in time, i.e., start and end at the same time, so that theprocess events for different images occurring at the various pitch zonesoccur during the same pitch time interval. These process events arerepeated in succession for each of the pitch time intervals in thevarious pitch zones in cyclical manner until the copy run is complated.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a softwareprogram is used to operate the computer 201 so that it generates thetimed signals for the third process events E1, E2, E3, etc . . . Entaking place at the various zones in the manner described above andapply them to the corresponding control or monitor devices via theinterface circuitry 203. The computer is programmed to perform theforegoing operation for each of the imaging or pitch cycles insuccession for the entire copy run.

The foregoing general description of the way the control signals arederived using a programmable controller or computer will now bedescribed in detail in terms of a specific example. Assume the clockpulse generator 207 is designed to generate 1000 pulses per pitchinterval and that the process paths are fully loaded. Referring to FIG.14, during each pitch interval the computer generates the timed controlsignals for the machine process events in succession at successive timeintervals starting from the pitch pulse starting time, t_(o), generatedby the computer after the operator commands the machine to print.

The exposure for the frame 11A then occurs at a given time, for example,230 clock pulses after t_(o), at zone I, and transfer of an earlierdeveloped image at zone III at 450th pulse at t₂. In the firstphotoconductor belt path 20', the exposure of another frame IIB occursat the 490th pulse at time t₃ in zone I, and the transfer of stillanother earlier developed image at the 650th pulse time t₄ in the secondbelt path 20' in zone III. The web containing a developed and fusedimage of still another frame is cut at the 770th pulse at t₅ in zone V,and a decision to eject or not eject is made at the 800th pulse at t₆ inzone VI.

As alluded to before, the pitch start time t_(o), may be internallygenerated or even keyed to a specific machine process step that canserve as the reference or bench mark at the start of each copying orimaging cycle. For example, although not shown, in FIGS. 13 and 14, theexposure step can serve as the start for the imaging cycles for the beltpath 20. In FIGS. 13 and 14, this can be readily done by shifting thezone marks to the right so that the exposure step coincides with thestart time of the first pitch cycle.

The computer 201 is programmed to calculate the time intervals betweenthe successive machine process events in the form of corresponding,clock pulse counts 230, 220, 40, 160, 120, 30 . . . during theinitialization as illustrated above and stores them in the memory table205. In operation, the computer places the count numbers in the counter209 in the memory in succession and the number on the counter isdecremented by the clock pulses from the clock signal generator 207. Asthe count is decremented to zero the computer generates a control signaland applies it a control device. The counter is then reset with asucceeding count and the rest of steps of decrementing, etc., follows.In this manner, the clock pulse count of 230 is first stored anddecremented to zero to generate the transfer signal and so forth untilall of the timed control signal pulses for the pitch duration aregenerated in succession for the entire copy run and addressed andapplied to corresponding control devices or control elements to effectthe corresponding process events.

During the initial period while the zones in the paper and belt pathsare being filled with the images being processed and during the cycleout period while zones are being emptied as the images being processedare cycled out, the computer is programmed to generate appropriatecontrol signals and apply them via the interface circuit 203 thatincludes appropriate modification to the control signals over those forthe fully loaded situation so that only those of the process events forthe zones being filled with images in precession are acted on and eventsfor the empty zones are not implemented. The computer is also programmedto respond to the paper jam or other machine interrupt conditions andhandle them appropriately.

Use of the software to run the computer for deriving the timed controlsignals renders the control for the machine highly flexible. Thus, forexample, controller can be programmed to make images of different length(in the direction of the travel), i.e., make the machine operate atdifferent pitch length for different reproduction or copy runs. Thepitch, i.e., copy length, can be changed from one reproduction run toanother by using appropriate instructions in the software routine storedin the computer and without entailing any change in the hardwired logicand the machine.

This is accomplished in accordance with the present invention by havingthe computer calculate, for each copy run of different pitch lengthbeing set up the operator, a set of timing lists in the form of theclock pulse counts for the successive time intervals between thesuccessive process events. The computer is programmed to do thisoperation during the initialization phase of the particular reproductionrun. Consequently, changes required in the timing of the timed controlsignals for a new reproduction run which is different from the earlierrun due to the change in the pitch or copy image length are implementedautomatically under the control of a stored program and all the operatoris required to do is to indicate or key in the pitch length for thereproduction run about to be made.

This is in contrast to the conventional control systems utilizing ahardwired and fixed logic; although to a limited degree a hardwiredlogic can be adapted to accommodate variable machine timing, itscomplexity expands so quickly as the number of machine process controlsteps and timing variations increase, that either the machineperformance must be sacrificed or entail high cost for the hardwiredlogic.

Generally, in accordance with the present invention, the controller canbe programmed to vary the timing sequence and cycles of the controlsignals, composition and order of the control signals, etc., to meet thechanging need of reproduction runs or machine characteristics. This canbe done by software with a master program having various optionalfeatures stored in the controller that entails little or no change inthe hardware, logic and mechanism.

Thus, for example, the present controller can be programmed to run thereproduction machine in a single pass duplex mode whereby copies can bereproduced with impressions on both sides of copy sheets in a singlepass of the copy sheets through the process path. Also, with appropriateoptional features, the software control can also render the machinereadily expandable to add new functions to the machine with little or nochanges in the circuitry of the controller, and thereby upgrade themachine capability. For example, an optional instruction routine may beprovided for enabling the controller to generate control signals thatwill enable the xerographic process implementing stations to skip thesplice or other types of defective portions of the web 28 being advancedto avoid forming impressions thereon.

To determine the feasibility of operating the reproduction machinedescribed above using a computer, a software program was developed for aPDP8/S computer available from Digital Equipment Corporation; it wasprogrammed to provide many functions, including the function ofcalculating and providing the timing list of the control signals forsuccessive machine process events in terms of the clock pulse counts fora given pitch or copy length indicated by the operator. An illustrativesoftware program used for a PDP8/S computer is included below. Theprogram will be briefly described in terms of the software programroutine architecture shown in FIG. 15 in conjunction with theaccompanying operational flow charts shown in FIGS. 16-28.

SYSTEMS SOFTWARE ARCHITECTURE

FIG. 15 shows, in general, a software architecture that parallels theoperational process steps shown in the flow charts in FIGS. 16-28 inoperating the copier/duplicator machine 5. Broadly, the routine includessteps for initializing and placing the computer into STANDBY mode andcalculating the timing list for timed machine events, then placing thecomputer into EXECUTIVE mode so that the computer generates the controlsignals for the timed machine process events E1, E2, E3 . . . thehousekeeping control signals for monitoring the operating status of thevarious machine components for machine malfunctions, and real timemachine functions events, T1, T2, T3 . . . Tn.

Specifically now referring to the STANDBY mode operation, after power isapplied to the computer and interface logic (See FIG. 16), aninstruction routine is used to RESET the latch circuits 243a, 243b, . .. 243n and FLAG any fault condition. Appropriate FLAG routines are usedto program the computer so that the computer checks with variousmonitoring and control elements to check readiness for operation. Afterthe foregoing routine, the power is applied to the machine 5 itself.(See FIGS. 17 and 18).

Next the software routine enters A SWITCH SCAN loop for entering copyrun instruction data from the operator console as programmed by theoperator and status of monitoring devices in the machine. This routineentails the steps of scanning the various inputs means or keys in theoperator console to receive copy run information and other operatorinstructions, and the status signals of the machine and calculate thetiming list for the timed control signals.

For SWITCH SCAN routines the computer is programmed to scan variousinput terminals at the operator control console. Referring to FIG. 1Bshowing the control console, the input information applied to thecomputer by the operator such as the pitch length, copy run (i.e.document number, copy numbers), mode of operation (i.e., simplex orduplex) are applied to suitable register circuits means (not shown)including the AND gates 251a, 251b, . . . 251n. The inputs so providedare strobed into the computer in succession as the computer addressesthem one at a time at a very high speed.

The computer operational speed is extremely fast compared to the speedwith which the operator keys in the input information. Consequently, ifneed be, the computer can be programmed to scan an input instructionfrom the operator console several times and determine statistically onthe basis of composite result of the scanned input the genuineness ofthe input and store the instruction. This feature renders the controlimmune to electrical noise signals which would otherwise interfere withthe operation of the controller and thus of the machine.

The importance of this noise immunity feature is especially significantin view of the fact that xerographic reproducing machine to be operatedby the programmable computer is inherently a very noisy machine in theelectrical sense because of the high AC and DC corona generatingsupplies which range in the order of thousands of volts. The noiseimmunity features is attributable to a number of factors. Thus forexample, the scanning operation implemented by the software control asdescribed above enables the computer and interface logic to use DC powersupply in the range of below 20 to 30 volts D.C. There are other factorsthat render the machine less noise immune: For example, the inputsignals from the control console are not directly applied to thecomputer but selectively examiner by the computer using the interfacecircuits. In this manner, the computer need only examine those signalswhich are necessary to the operation of the system at a particular giventime. All other signals can be ignored so that noise on these othersignal lines does not affect the operation of the system. Secondly, thenoise signals, e.g. conducted and radiated noise, that might passthrough the buffered isolation are prevented from affecting the internaloperation of the computer because of the sampling approach used in theinput scanning operation. In this regard, it is noted that the scanningand sampling time interval is typically in the order of onlymicroseconds or submicroseconds whereas non-scanning timing interval isin the order of miliseconds. So the probability of noise signalsoccurring in the microseconds or submicroseconds scan time slot asopposed to the miliseconds non-scan duration is very small.Consequently, the probability that the scanning operation will take upthe spark noise is extremely low.

Furthermore, if in spite of this noise should occur at the scanninginterval, that noise is even further reduced, according to the presentinvention by scanning, that is by sampling the input means several timesbefore accepting the input as the genuine input. Thus, suppose the inputis applied in the form of logic 1. But suppose the noise conditionprevents the entry of logical 1 signal when the input is first scanned.If the scanning cycle is limited in one cycle, this would be picked upand the computer will take the erroneous logical 0 signal as the input.

This rather remote possibility is removed even further by scanning theinput means a given number of times, for example, five times, and thecomputer is programmed to determine the consistency, e.g., four out offive matching sampled signals match, and then treat the matching signalcorrect input.

Another advantage of the present scanning and sampling technique is thatit is immune to switch debounce problem generally associated withelectro-mechanical switches used in the control console and elsewhere.Electro-mechanical switched open and close very rapidly for a shortperiod of time after activation. This characterisric is known as switchbounce and often complex interface latching circuits are needed to"debounce" the switch to prevent the control system from thinking therewere several switch activations instead of one. By choosing the propersampling interval with this scanning technique the debounce problem iseliminated without the need for complex circuits or switches.

Another feature of this scan technique is that it solves the problem ofmultiple operation, switch activation or "rollover." If an operatoractivates more than one switch at the same time, the controls do notknown which information to accept first. This scanning techniqueprevents any information from being accepted by the computer until theoperator is activating only one switch at any one time. Again this isaccomplished without complex circuits or interlocking switches.

In short, according to an aspect of the present invention, the softwareis programmed to include redundancy in sampling or scanning of theinputs during the SWITCH SCAN routine so that the machine operation andparticularly, the scanning operation is rendered immune to noise, switchdebounce, and rollover problem without the need for complex switches orinterface circuits.

Now with reference to FIGS. 1B and 15, some of the SWITCH SCAN routine,in the standby mode, in entering the command or copy run informationwill be described. Referring to FIG. 15 the DIGIT INPUt routine entailsthe steps of the computer reading digit inputs, such as the copy runinformation, i.e., the document numbers, the copy numbers, pitch lengthetc. into the computer. These digits are entered either to the left(510L) or right (510R) side of the visual means via ENTER LEFT or RIGHTroutine using the selection keys 511 and 512 and digit entry keys 501.Whether to enter right or left depends on the specific need of thesituation and the way the operator programs the information. Forexample, the operator may enter the book number of the left and the copynumber of the right.

Process Mode Word PMWRD CONTROL (FIG. 15) refers to the software routinethat enables the computer to operate selected ones of the operativemachine components while the rest of the machine is idle. This featureis expecially useful in the diagnostic operation. Thus, using thisroutine, the computer can operate and test selected ones of the processmembers such as guillotine knife 160, web drive motor 105, chargingmeans 22 transfer means 81, developer 24, etc. as signified by theoperaor via special instruction keys 533 and 534 so provided.

CONTROL DEVICE routine comprises a software program routine that enablesthe computer to scan the operative status of the device elements ormachine input elements such as interlock, etc. to be sure that they arein an inactivated or reset or energized condition or whatever status isrequired for operation. For an illustrative routine for this operation,see FIG. 20.

SIMPLEX AND DUPLEX SCAN routines includes software instruction routineenabling the computer to scan the mode of operation (i.e., simplex andduplex) instructed by the operator via the keys 523 and 524. The JOGroutine entails software instruction that enables the operator to jog oradvance the paper reel 30 by keying the button 531 for a certain purposesuch as getting rid of its splice joint.

In a similar manner, other SWITCH SCAN routines may be programmed intothe computer to implement other SWITCH SCAN function as directed by theoperator.

In short then, the SWITCH SCAN routines described above enable thecomputer to enter the instructions provided by the operator on the copyrun information, copy length, copy run mode, i.e., simplex or duplex andthe like and scan the operative status of the machine. (For morespecifics see FIGS. 19 and 20 also).

According to another aspect of the present invention, the software isdesigned so that, if by mistake two or more input keys are pressedsimultaneously, it enables the computer to recognize this and not totake in the keyed information until the operator keys in a sequence.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, the software routinesprevent the computer from running the machine until the copy run andother necessary information required for making a copy run is keyed inby the operator. When all of the necessary information if keyed properlyand entered by the computer then the computer implements the START PRINTSCAN routine and proceeds further.

The START PRINT routine is possible only after copy run or diagnosticsor other operational instructions have been scanned and entered into thecomputer properly and the operator presses START PRINT button 521. Thisroutine directs the computer to execute the next routine, namely,calculation of the TIME LISTS of those of machine process events thatrequire precise timing (FIG. 21). In this routine, the software directsthe computer to calculate the time intervals between the successivemachine events that must occur at precise time positions within eachpitch in terms of the clock pulse counts, such as the counts of 230,450, 650, (FIG. 14) and so on for the exposure transfer, web cutting jamdetection etc. discussed earlier in connection with FIGS. 13 and 14. Thetiming lists derived from this routine is then stored in the event table205 of the computer memory (FIG. 8) for subsequent use in the EXECUTIVEmode.

Upon completion of the calculating subroutine, the software isprogrammed to direct the computer to enter with the EXECUTIVE mode tostart up the machine (FIG. 22) and generate control signals to implementreproduction process steps and monitor the machine operation insuccessive cycles until the copy run is completed (FIGS. 23-26).

The EXECUTIVE mode comprises three main types of operational routines.One routine entails the steps of implementing the machine processevents, designated PITCH EVENTS, E1, E2, E3 . . . En. This operationrequires the computer to generate control signals for the machineprocess events that require precise timing within each time intervalsuch as flash, web cutting, jam detection, etc. These events occur onceevery pitch interval when the process zones are fully loaded and arephased in or phased out as the zones are being loaded or unloaded duringthe start and end of the copy run.

A second routine provides control signals for certain machine processevents which do not require precise timing within pitch time intervalsbut which require proper timing in a real time, although they do notnecessarily occur repetitively for every pitch. This subroutine isdesignated TIME EVENTS, T1, T2, T3 . . . Tn. These events T1, T2 . . .Tn, and include the steps actuating the MAIN DRIVE motor, controllingthe engagement of web 12 relative to the photoreceptor belts 20, 20',heating of fuser 33, and the like in a proper sequence and in a realtime during operation of the machine. The PITCH and TIME event controlsignals are generated by the computer and addressed to the correspondingcontrol device elements via the address decoder 241 and the latchcircuits 254a, 254b . . . 254n of FIG. 9.

A third routine is for checking or monitoring the machine operationstatus and the like that might be considered a housekeeping routine.This includes the routine to check operator actuated interruptconditions such as stop command. It includes monitoring operation ofsensing components of the machine 5 for checking their malfunctionstatus, such as paper supply run out, excessive fuser temperature, andother of non-timed events of random nature. The third routine entailsthe steps for enabling the computer to send out the scanning signals tothe various scanning stations that monitor or sense the status of thevarious device control elements in the machine or the switches in thecontrol console. Upon completion of a copy run, the machine enters acycle out routine.

In the cycle out routine, the software instructs the computer to go toSWITCH SCAN routine to await for the next copy run instruction theoperator may provide. If desired, suitable means, such as teletype orCRT readout may be provided to display the data on the copy runcompleted via any suitable DATA DUMP routine.

At this point, if the operator encodes the next copy run informationswithin a suitable waiting time period, then the computer executes theSWITCH SCAN mode for the next copy run. If not, the computer cycles outthe machine and the computer.

In operating the computer in the EXECUTIVE MODE the software isprogrammed to follow through EXEC operations. The EXEC operationscomprise a series of interrupt operations adapted to operate thecomputer as follows. The computer is programmed to operate in cycles insuccession usually in micro or submicro second cycle time. As thecomputer through, a PITCH EVENT clock count is stored in counter 209 andchecked. If the stored number is not 0, the counter decrements by oneand moves to perform the TIME events, the housekeeping operations, orother events.

The computer operates in cyclical fashion in this manner and decrementsthe counter by one after each machine clock pulse. When the computerfinds that the counter being decremented is zero it generates and applisthe PITCH event control signal. The next event is taken from the eventtable and the pitch in qhich the event occurs is checked to see if animage is present. If no image is present, the event is changed to anon-operation event. The computer then loads this next PITCH event countinto the counter and moves on to perform other functions. The foregoingsteps are repeated to generate the PITCH event control signals insuccession as timed by the timing list prepared during the STANDBY mode.

Several significant features may be noted here involving the EXECoperations. Suppose two PITCH events occur at precisely the same time inthe actual operation of the machine. Since the software is programmed togenerate PITCH EVENT signals one at a time in sequence, it isundesirable to generate more than one PITCH signals simultaneously. Butthe conflict presented by this situation is avoided by shifting one ofthe two events by one or two or more machine clock pulse counts andhaving the computer generate the PITCH event control signalsaccordingly. The shifting does not adversely affect the operation of themachine nor the quality of the copy because a shift of a few clockpulses as manifested in the operation or copy is hardly noticeable. Thiscan be readily perceived by noting that one clock pulse shift means 0.01inch movement of the belt in the above example and consequently theimage is not adversely affected.

Another aspect of the software control pertains to the jam defectfunction operation. The software is so programmed that the computergenerates PITCH EVENT control signals to look for the absence orpresence or both of the cut sheet in the paper path at given timesduring each pitch time interval. Thus, more specifically, the computeris programmed to generate a timed control signal and apply it to thesensing means 113 of any suitable type. If paper should be there, no jamoccurs. Absence of the paper at this point is sensed as jam conditionand this is signified to the computer via a monitor circuit and thelatch 257. The jam detect operation may be performed at an appropriatetime interval later within the same pitch time interval again to assurethat the cut sheet has moved. Hence a second jam detect signal isgenerated by the computer as another PITCH even signal and applied tothe monitoring means and sensed. This time the presence of the paper isdetected as the jam condition.

The double check performed in detecting the jam condition is especiallyuseful in the high speed machine where, because of the high throughputcapacity, failure to detect the jam timely and promptly can result in alarge number of sheets being crumpled and accumulated in the paper pathwhich clog the machine and waste paper.

A typical program for use with aforementioned PDP8/S computer fordemonstrating the feasibility of operating reproduction machine 5 in anintegrated manner to produce copies appears hereinbelow together with anexemplary copy run readout of the program. For information respectingthe definition of the various terms used, one may refer to DigitalEquipment Corporation's Small Computer Handbook, published in 1967, forthe PDP8/S computer. ##SPC1## ##SPC2## ##SPC3## ##SPC4## ##SPC5####SPC6## ##SPC7## ##SPC8##

EXAMPLE OF A RUN ON THE COMPUTER

The following is the printout on the Teletype of a typical run of theprogram on the PDP-8/S.

The first thing the computer does is to force a length request. In thiscase the operator enters 17 inches. Next the computer requests thenumber of copies required in batch number 1. The operator in thisinstance enters 2. The computer then goes on to request the number ofcopies needed in batch number 2. The operator requests 1 copy. Thecomputer then requests the number of copies in batch number 3. At thispoint the operator requests a return to the length input mode which thecomputer does. It types out "Length" and the previously entered lengthof 17 inches and then waits to allow the operator to change the lengthif he wants to. In this example the operator changes the length to 13.5inches. The computer immediately returns to inputing the number ofcopies in batch number 3 where it was before the change length requestcame. At this point the operator requests to return to the number ofcopies in batch number 2 mode, so that he can change that number. Acomputer does this, showing that the operator had requested one copypreviously. The operator changes this value to 2 and the computer againreturns to the point that it was before the change request, namelyinputing the number of copies in batch number 3. At this point theoperator makes a run request and the computer does the necessarycalculations as indicated by the flow charts and starts cycling up themachine.

The computer is now in the run mode and the timed operations are typedout in sequence. The jam true and false operation involves testing thecondition of various paper detectors to determine if paper is present orabsent at the proper times. The "End Pitch" output separates the blockof operations which go on in each pitch length of belt travel. In theexposure sequence, the frame pairs are exposed and the film advancesforward to the next pair of frames. This repeats until the micro inputsees an end frame (in this simulation the end frame indication isentered from the keyboard) at which point the film advance is inhibitedbecause these pair of frames are the last pages of this set and thefirst pages of the next set and must be exposed twice in succession. Inour example the operator arbitrarily produces an end frame via thekeyboard after the second pair of frames is in position. Thus or set inbatch number one has 4 pages in it, and it will be noted that after thesecond pair of exposures the film does not advance forward again. Thefirst set in this batch has been made at this point, so that the displayis changed from two to one as shown immediately following the twoflashes. It should be noted that the paper path and the transfercorotrons have not been turned on until this point. This is because thepaper path is turned on as late as possible to minimize waste of paper.

The first set of this batch is now completely exposed and the second andlast set is started. Two more pairs of images are exposed to completethe batch, and the film is slewed forward to the next batch.

When the next set is in position on the micro input, it's exposurebegins. Again the operator of the simulation has arbitrarily made thisset contain four pages. It is exposed like the first batch, and themachine starts to process out the copies.

In the middle of this processing, the operator has simulated a jamcondition via the keyboard which shuts down the machine immediately. Theoperator then restarts the machine and the controller repositions thefilm to recover those images which were lost in the jam. The controllerrestarts the machine, reprocesses the lost images, and cycles outnormally. ##SPC9##

SYSTEMS Operations

The sequence of systems will now be described with reference to theaccompanying flow charts shown in FIGS. 16 - 24. The sequence assumes aroll fusing approach, but other suitable fusing means and operations canbe used. If fluash fusing is used all steps involving fuser warm up andfuser roll engagement disengagement operation would be eliminated asindicated.

In operating the system, the first aforementioned software programincluding various features are stored into the comuter in a conventionalmanner. To make individual copy runs, a particular film cassette havingdesired document originals are locked in place. These being done thenthe following sequence of operations follow in making the copy run.

GENERAL SEQUENCE (FIG. 16)

The flow chart shows the general overall sequencing of the machine. Thecharts following this one, break down the individual boxes in this chartinto more detailed descriptions of the specific sequences. The generalsequencing of the machine is always entered through the "Power On" whichis initiated by pressing the ON button 520. From there the"initialization and Warmup" sequence follows. After the machine isproperly warmed up and it has been determined that the machine is readyfor operation, the "Data Acquisition" mode is entered. In this mode theoperation enters through the control console 500 all the informationneeded for a copy run, namely, the pitch length, mode indication(simplex or duplex), document numbers and number of copies for each ofthe documents called for copies. After the entry of the requiredinformation about the run and loading of the film cassette, the operatorpushes the print button and the machine enters the "Checkout/Start" modeusing the aforedescribed SWITCH SCAN routine to check if the copy runinformation entry is complete and correct. From there the "Calculation"mode is entered to calculate the timing list of the machine processevents. After this sequence is finished the "Start Up Sequence" isentered. Previous to this point the machine had been in the STANDBYroutine but at this point the machine begins to cycle up. After the"Checkout/Start" sequence has been completed, the SYSTEM enters EXCUTIVEroutine and performs a "Run Mode". At this point the machine processescopies.

During the "Run Mode" if an emergency or malfunction situation isdetected in the machine, an exit to the "Emergency Condition" is madeand appropriate action is taken. Afterwards depending upon the requiredaction, the "Emergency Condition" exits to a "Run Mode", "Cycle Out"mode or to "Hold" mode. During the "Run Mode" if no emergency situationis detected, the machine processes out the required number of copies andthe "Run Mode" exits to the "Cycle Out" mode.

The "Cycle Out" mode starts the shut down routine of the machine, butsince some copies are still in process in the machine, the "Cycle Out"mode returns to the "Run Mode" which in turn returns to the "Cycle Out"mode. When all the required copies are processed, the "Cycle Out" modeshuts the machine down and exits to the "Hold" condition. If the run wasnormal with no emergencies, the "Hold" condition exits to "DataAcquisition" to receive information for the next run. If the run had notbeen completed properly the information about the uncompleted run isheld by the controller while it is in "Hold" and when the problem iscleared up, the machine exits to the "Start Up Sequence" to complete therun.

This is the general sequence for the machine. Now the flow chartsshowing the in depth details of each mode follows.

Power On (FIG. 17)

This is the entry point for the whole system. It is entered by pushingthe ON button 520 and the only descision pont is a check to make surethe OFF button 540 is not pushed. OFF always overrides ON. We now exitto "Initialization and Warmup".

Initialization and Warmup (FIG. 18)

The first thing done upon entering this mode is to turn on the computerlogic power supply. The controller goes into a routine which clears itsregisters and clears the output structure as described before. The ONbutton is checked by the controller and the interlocks are checked. Ifall conditions are satisfied, the main power is latched on by thecontroller. At this point, all the standby devices such as fuser 33 anddeveloper 62, charge 22, etc. are turned on. RESET and POWER ON softwareroutine described above are used to implement these steps.

If the machine had a roll fuser it would have been warmed up at thispoint. Since the flash fuser needs no warm up this step would beeliminated with flash fusing. A logic check is performed next and ifthis is successful and if there is no fuser warmup, the program exits to"Data Acquisition" shown in FIG. 19.

Data Acquisition (FIG. 19)

Upon entering this mode the first thing the controller requests is theinput of a pitch length. This may be entered in digits via the digitkeys 501. The program then converts the digits to a binary form usingthe proper scale factors and check to make sure that this figure fallswithin the machine allowable length of say between 4 and 30 inches.After the length data is satisfactorily entered, the other informationon the copy run, i.e. document numbers and copy numbers and mode (i.e.,simplex or duplex) are entered. Since a billing system has not beenspecified, billing information is not included in this discussion, butit can be easily incorporated in the program once the billing format isdecided upon. The program is so written that it is possible to changethe document number and page nunbers or the length data at any timebefore the systems enters into the "run mode" and start processing thecopies. The program is written so that the document numbers andcorresponding copy numbers can be entered in at random to the documentbuffer register 210. But the computer reads them into the computermemory in the order of sequence in which the numbers appear on film 12.If a request to change previously entered document or length data ismade, the program will return to the requested location to make thechange and then return back to the original location when the requestfor the change was made. Information for at least one document must beentered before the program can leave this mode and information for up to10 documents can be entered before the document buffer register isconsidered to be full. The exit from this mode is provided by a runrequest or when the document table 205 is full. The capacity of documenttable 205 depends on the memory capacity and the configuration of thereproduction memory system. They can be readily increased by appropriatechanges in the memory capacity and the software.

The "Data Acquisition" mode is implemented by the SWITCH SCAN Softwareroutine described before.

Check/Out/Start (FIG. 20)

A check out routine may be used to check out the machine 5 is made sureit is ready to run and the film 12 is loaded (FIG. 20) into the filminput head (FIG. 3, 11). Successful completion of these operationsallows the program to exit from this mode. Malfunction conditions ofvarious relevant elements are checked out and if a malfunction isdetected, appropriate steps are taken. SWITCH SCAN Software routinedescribed above are written to include necessary instructional routineto implement this step.

CALCULATION (FIG, 21)

In this mode a list of the machine timing of process events iscalculated based on the pitch length information and the mode ofoperation (i.e. simplex or duplx) in the manner described above in termsof the clock pulse count numbers between the successive machine processevents in the pitch zones of the process paths as described above. Filmadvance and positioning is figured in so that film movement occursbetween the successive machine exposure steps. As an added feature ofthe control, selected ones of the exposure and other steps can beskipped to avoid defective portions. For example, the pitch locationimmediately preceding the earliest flash is calculated so tht splices inthe paper web 28 can be avoided properly.

Since the controller is limited as to the number of simultaneous eventswhich it can handle and since only a few events have very critical timerelationships, the non-critical events are adjusted i.e., time shifted,so as to eliminate simultaneous events. The calculated timing lists isthen stored in the memory 206 for use. The program exists from this modeand enters into the executive mode.

Start-up Sequence (FIG. 22)

The Start-up sequence shows a general sequence for the machine cycle up.The delays can be adjusted by the program to almost any value, althoughit would be easiest if they were all the same length. This sequence isimplemented by the real time process event T1, T2, T3 ... Tn softwareroutine during the EXECUTIVE mode as described above.

Run Mode Part I (FIG. 23)

This shows the list development program that the controller 200implements as the controller determines what events should occur in anypitch pulse time interval according to the progress of machineoperation. During this operation, conventional interrupt routine isutilized to load the counter 209 with a time interval indicating thetime difference between succeeding events in the form of clock pulsecounts for the intended machine process.

Run Mode Part II (FIG. 24)

This chart shows the flow of action when the controller has determinedthat the next event in the list developed in the Run Mode Part I (FIG.23) should occur. In most cases this involves straightforward executionof the event. In the case of certain real time events, T, such as End ofPitch, Web Cutting Signal, Flush, etc. the operations must be done inreal time to determine whether the event should be executed or not. Forinstance, before the advance film signal can be sent out, it must bedetermined if an end frame is present and if one is, whether the filmshould be advanced to the next document or more copies should beprocessed of the same document by reversing the direction of advancementof the film 12. The End of Pitch event does not cause the end of outputsby itself. Certain internal "housekeeping" chores are performed by thecontroller before this takes place. The flash signal has to check aninternal flag before it is allowed to occur. The cut signal event isused to check to see if all copies have been processed out up to the cutarea. If the machine is clear up to this point, the program exits to"Cycle Out", Chart 28.

Emergency Conditions (FIGS. 25 and 26)

This mode is entered whenever an emergency condition is discovered.Basically there are three types of emergencies as defined by the actionstaken when an undesired condition is detected. The first type is a cycleout type of emergency where the program acts as if the stop copy button540 had been pushed and cycles out the machine, processing out thecopies already exposed in the machine. A more severe type of emergencyis the "Quick Stop" type in which the machine is shut down to standbyimmediately and all data is held for start-up. The most extreme type ofemergency is the emergency OFF conditions in which all power to themachine is shut off immediately.

Cycle Out (FIG. 27)

This is the mode that the Run Mode Part II (FIG. 24) exits to when themachine copy sheet paper path is clear of copies up to cutting station34. The paper path is shut down to save paper and then the rest of theprocess is cycled out. When the machine is completely empty of copies,the program exits of "Hold".

Hold (FIG. 28)

This is the mode entered from both the cycle out (FIG. 27) and emergencymodes (FIGS. 25 and 26). If this is a normal end of run entrance, theold data is cleared out of the controller, a check is performed upon thelogic, and the program exits to receive new data for the next run. Ifthe termination of run was not normal, then all information is helduntil the problem is corrected at which point the machine can berestarted so as to complete the run. A feature of the program is that inthe case of a quick stop type of emergency in which some copies are lostin process in the machine, the machine, the film 12 is automaticallyrepositioned by the program upon restarting so that the lost copies maybe reprocessed out.

In the foregoing, an electrostatographic reproducing machine with aprogrammable controller embodying various aspects of the presentinvention has been described above. Utilization of a programmablecontroller renders the machine highly flexible and versatile. Inparticular, it renders the machine to be capable of functioning as avariable pitch machine whereby the spaces or distances allotted forsuccessive images formed and developed can be changed from reproductionrun to reproduction run using stored programs and without changing anyintervals circuitry.

While the principles of the present invention have been described interms of web fed, single pass simplex duplex copier/duplicator machine,clearly the application thereof is not so limited. A person of skill inthe art may modify or change the application from the teachings of theprinciples of the present invention without departing from the spiritand scope thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. In a synchronous reproduction machine forproducing impressions of variable size and quantity from an original,the reproduction machine having a photosensitive member and a pluralityof discrete operating components cooperable with one another and thephotosensitive member to electrostatically produce impressions onsupport material, the improvement comprising:programming means forprogramming the machine to produce the impressions desired; controlmeans for operating said components in timed relationship with oneanother to produce the desired impressions in accordance with saidprograming means; and component monitoring means for periodicallychecking at least one of said operating components in the intervalsbetween actuation of said operating components to determine if said onecomponent is functioning properly.
 2. In a synchronous reproductionmachine for producing impressions of variable size and quantity from anoriginal, the reproduction machine having a photosensitive member and aplurality of discrete operating components cooperable with one anotherand the photosensitive member to electrostatically produce impressionson support material, the improvement comprising:a programmablecontroller for use in programming the machine to produce the impressionsdesired, said controller including a master program, a computer, saidcomputer being adapted to calculate timing signals in accordance withsaid master program for actuating said components in timed relationshipwith one another to produce the impressions desired, memory means forstoring said timing signals pending use by said controller, andmonitoring means programmed by said master program for periodicallychecking the operability of at least one of said operating components inthe interval between said timing signals.
 3. In a synchronousreproduction machine for producing impressions of variable size andquantity from an original, the reproduction machine having aphotosensitive member, a plurality of discrete operating componentscooperable with one another and the photosensitive member toelectrostatically produce impressions on support material, and sensingmeans to monitor the operational status of at least one of saidcomponents, the improvement comprising:a programmable controller for usein programming the machine to produce the impressions desired, saidcontroller including a master program, a computer, said computer beingadapted to calculate timing signals in accordance with said masterprogram for actuating said components in timed relationship with oneanother to produce the impressions desired, memory means for storingsaid timing signals pending use by said controller, and monitoring meansprogrammed by said master program for periodically checking said sensingmeans in the interval between said timing signals to determine theoperational status of their respective components.
 4. In a synchronousreproduction machine for producing impressions of variable size andquantity from an original, the reproduction machine having aphotosensitive member and a plurality of discrete operating componentscooperable with one another and the photosensitive member toelectrostatically produce impressions on support material, theimprovement comprising: a programmable controller for use in programmingthe machine to produce the impressions desired, said controllerincludinga master program, and a computer, said computer being adaptedto calculate timing signals in accordance with said master program foractuating said components in timed relationship with one another toproduce the impressions desired, said computer including memory meansfor storing said timing signals pending use by said controller, saidmaster program including an instruction routine for periodicallyupdating the timing signals stored in said computer memory means.
 5. Thereproduction machine according to claim 4 in which said instructionroutine updates the timing signals in said computer memory means in theintervals between actuation of said operating components.